Couture Dreams & Burlesque Fantasies: A Visit to the Louvre’s Haute Couture Exhibition

There are few things more decadent than wandering through the halls of the Louvre, surrounded by history, art, and on this occasion, some of the most breathtaking couture pieces ever created. The current couture exhibition is nothing short of a love letter to craftsmanship, a beautifully curated display that felt perfectly at home within the grand architecture of the museum. As I moved through the space, each gown placed with deliberate precision, I was reminded of why I first fell in love with fashion.

Seeing these historical couture creations up close transported me back to when I trained to be an atelier fresh out of school before life, reality, and the cost of studying fashion forced me onto another path. But the desire never left. The artistry of embellishment, hand-sewn details, and exquisite beading still calls to me, much like the way I craft my burlesque costumes today. There’s something deeply seductive about couture its ability to transform, to tell a story, to turn fantasy into reality.

One of the highlights? Finally seeing a piece by Giambattista Valli in person a designer I adored back in college. Standing before one of their signature tulle designs from Autumn 2018, I was instantly transported to the dreams I had as a student, the ones that never truly faded. And perhaps, it's time to return to them. The world of costuming, couture, and intricate handwork is pulling me back in, and who knows, maybe my next stage ensemble will be adorned with the very techniques I once longed to master.

There’s something intoxicating about being in a museum or an art exhibition with someone, standing close, heads tilted together, whispering about what we love, tracing fingertips over the pages of a catalogue, or stealing glances between the sculptures. It’s the kind of quiet intimacy that lingers long after we leave, like a secret only we share. On se retrouve à Paris?